Free A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) by M.L. Guida

hurt us. Not yet anyway. I suspect he has another purpose. One I cannot fathom.” She gave William a hard stare as if he had promised Zuto his soul.
    “Be careful with him,” Morgana said. “He has a plan and will stop at nothing.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I cannot see his plan. I sense his anger, much anger. Hate. His Lord and Master blames all of you, and he is holding Zuto accountable for not bringing back Hannah and her father. Zuto is cunning, more cunning than the devil himself. Be careful, all of you. I fear before ’tis over, he will offer one of you a temptation that could lead down a dark path.”
    Ronan kicked ash back into the fireplace. “How do we avoid this?” 
    “You must each follow your destiny. Forces will happen which you all must accept. The good and the bad.” She patted Mariah’s arm but focused her gaze on William. “You must leave with these men tonight and go to their ship.”
    Mariah wet her lips. “But…”
    “ Oui , they are vampires. Do not worry, mon chérie . You will need vampires and a dragon to protect you. The capitaine’s mate will be an ally. She can move objects with her mind.”
    “You know Hannah,” Kane said, wariness heavy in his voice.
    “I have a gift for her, Capitaine . A moonstone. Mariah shall show her how to use it.”
    ’Twas absurd to believe the crew of the Soaring Phoenix could protect Mariah. They’d failed miserably so far in protecting Hannah, almost lost her twice, once to her deranged fiancé and their last confrontation with the Fiery Damsel . “Mariah will be at risk if she comes with us,” William said. “She stays here.”
    Morgana jammed the tip of her cane into William’s chest. He winced. “Look, crone.” He grabbed the tip of her cane.
    “Listen, you stubborn dragon.” Morgana jerked the cane out of his hand. “She is not safe here. Natasa knows about her gifts and shall send Palmer to capture her. She will then have both my grandchildren. I shall not have it. I am leaving you in charge of her welfare. She is your destiny.”
    “Destiny?” William glowered. Sharon’s ashen face flashed in front of him. Her silky blond hair tangled around her head like a wild gypsy. Ruby lips parted as if waiting for a kiss. Her green gown molded to her luscious body. Not even death could steal her beauty.
    He had brushed her hair back and had kissed her stiff lips good-bye, wetting her cheeks with his tears, wishing those pouty lips would respond and kiss him back one more time. To see her green eyes filled with laughter and smile one more time. To inhale her dewy morning smell one more time. He had rested his head on her forehead and inhaled. But there was no fragrant smell, only the emptiness of death. He had been too slow to defend her, just like he had been too slow with his mother.
    He gazed at Mariah. Every muscle tensed at the thought of seeing those beautiful violet eyes listless like Sharon’s. “No.”
    Morgana met his steely gaze. “Then prepare to be Natasa’s slave.”  
    ***
    Mariah bit back her tongue. William looked at her as if he wanted her to toss her into the ocean and be done with her. She wanted to slap his handsome face and shake him. She was not some kind of novelty witch. “I will go pack.”
    Grabbing Grand-mère’s black velvet bag, she slid away from the table and flounced out of the room. Behind her, muffled voices murmured, but she didn’t care what they were saying. Lark’s life was at stake. And if Grand-mère felt like she could rescue Lark, then she would match wits with a she-demon. Even if it meant she might die in the process.
    Heavy footsteps trailed after her. She glanced over her shoulder, quickened her step, and raced into her bedroom. 
    William stomped after her, apparently not caring that he invaded a woman’s sanctuary. He was too close, and all she could think about was when he’d awakened in her lap naked. He’d been magnificent with his sculpted body, sleep in those